Protective device



R. C. LEAKE.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.1919.

1,380,300. Patented May 31, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

FIGE. F|e.3

A TTOR NE Y.

R. C. LEAKE.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8. 1919.

Patented May 31, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES RICHARD C. LEAKE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO. GENERAL RALLWLY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PATENT OFFICE.

rnornc'rxvn DEVICE.

T 0 all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD C. LEAKE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Protective Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to protective devices for electric interlocking systems and particularly .to devices which are sometimes termed cross-protection relays and are used toprotect electric interlocking systems against improper operation of the parts or functions due to crosses between operating wires and similar derangements of the WH- ing and connections.

One object of my invention is to improve the design and construction of protective devices, by providing a device, which w ll be simple, reliable and efficient, comprlse but few and rugged parts and which can be easily and cheaply manufactured.

Another object of my invention is to devise a protective device of the characterdescribed which will respond to the flow of alternating current through its coils but which will not be effected by direct current and one which after it has operated, the circuits which it may open cannot again be closed until the parts of the protective device are in such a position as to be immediately capable of reopening these circuits.

A further object of my invention is to devise a protective device which can be readily restored to its normal condition after it has been automatically operated, one which can be operated manually to facilitate inspection or repair, but which cannot be manipulated accidentally or intentionally in such a way as to interfere with or destroy the protection which it gives.

A still further object of my invention is to devise a protective device having all of the above-mentioned characteristics and one which after being operated automatically by an improper flow of current due to a cross, ground, or the like, cannot be restored to or improperly held in its normal condition to reestablish a path for said improper flow of current, until the cross or' other condition causing said improper flow has ceased to exist. 1

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses, and the novel features of the in- Speciflcsflon of Letters Patent.

' vention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying draw- 1ngs, m which is illustrated a preferred physical embodiment of the invention, 'in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, and in p which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my protective device, some of the parts thereof being shown in full for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially'on the line 2-2 in Fig. I viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows a; v

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows b;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary view showing the method of mounting the main shaft and the parts operatively connected thereto;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showingthe method of operatively connecting the tripper arm with the contact fingers;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view, partly in perspective with certain parts broken away and spread apart which shows in a simplified form the principal operating parts of the protective device; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the parts in an operated position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the protective device embodying my inventihr in general comprises a'single element alternating current relay, specifically a relay of the vane type, together with associated contact devices adapted to be opened upon energization of the relay, and manually controlled operating and restoring devices for permitting the contacts to. be opened or closed manually when desired. The protective device as illustrated is formed with a box-like frame comprising a metallic casting having a base portion B with two upright end portions R and F, and a top block T of insulating material which is fastened to said end portions by screws 1. One of the end portions R is provided with a bolt 2 by means of which the entire circuit controller is secured to a suitable supporting panel.

The end portion R is formed with two parallel sides 3 extending a part of the way Patented May 31, 1921. Application filed July 8, 1919. Serial No. 309,278. I

of laminations constituting a core 6 of-a' general rectangular shape. Referring to ig. 2, the bottom portion of the core is formed with two poles 66,-each of WhlCh carries a coil 7 and a shade ring 8 in the same way and for the same purpose commonly employed in the construction of vane type re- 1 and 3. Pressed into holes in bosses formed ays. The coils 7 are held in. a' proper position on their respective poles by two resilient spreaders 9 which are arranged-between the coils .7 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

are adapted toresiliently urge the coils apart and hold them firmly against the outer portions of the core 6. T ese spreaders 9 are made with their ends cut out to permit them to fit over, the poles 6-6 of the core 6 and are long enough to permit the end of one to overlap the end of the other.

The end portion F is similar in construction to the end portion B, being also formed with two parallel sides 10 connected at one end by an integral cross bar 11, see Figs.

on the inside of each of said sides 10 are bearings 12 which are secured therein by set screws 13, as shown in Fig. 4. These bearings 12 form supports for the ends of a transverse main operating shaft 14 wh1ch is mounted eccentrically therein, as shown in. Figs. 3, 4 and 6. Pinned to the shaft near one side (see Fig. 3) is a collar 15 having a circular flange or rim to which is riveted or otherwise suitably fastened a vane 16, best shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This vane 16 is formed with an elongated arm 16 provided with a raised rib for strengthening purposes and having at its free end an enlarged vane portion 16. Another arm 16 extending to the right from the bearing portion of said vane as viewed in Flg. 1 1s formed at its outer end with a flange 16 which is bent at right angles to said arm (see Fig. 6) for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The main shaft 14 is cut away near its middle to form a second eccentric bearing 17, said bearing being arranged on the side of the axis of said shaft 14 which is opposite to that on which the journal bearings for said shaft are formed. This second eccentically being doubled over or looped at their lower ends and fastened to supports 23 secured to the-top block T by binding posts 24. The contact fingers 22 are biased by an inherent tension to one position and are adapted to be moved against said bias and-to make electrical contact in one extreme position of I the device with angle shaped contact pieces 25 which are fastened to the underside of the top block T by bolts 26 or other suitable fastening means. Said angle shaped contact pieces 25 are preferably formed with slots (not shown.) through which the bolts 26 pass so as to facilitate adjustment of the contact pressure by adjusting said angle shaped pieces 25 rather than by bending the contact fingers 22. As illustrated in Big. 1, the contact fingers 22 are provided with back contact pieces 27 which are adapted to make electrical contact in the other extreme position of the protective device with a contact piece 28 preferablysecuredin a slot in the head of a bolt forming part of an additional binding post 29 mounted in the top block T. These contact pieces 27, however, are not a part of the usual construction of the device but may be used if desired.

- The tripper arm TA is provided with a notch or latch 30 which is formed on the underside of said arm near its right hand end (see Figs. 1 and 6), said latch 30 being adapted to cooperate with a catch 31 secured to an upwardly extendin lug 32 integral with a restoring handle %I, for a purpose hereinafter more fully explained. This restoring handle H is formed with a hub or boss 33 on one side which is mounted on and secured by means of a cotter pin 34 to a pivot pin 35 located below the main shaft 14 and supported and journaled, in the sides 10 of the end portion F'so as to turn about a horizontal axis. Extending to the left from the hub 33 of the handle H, as viewe in-Fig. 1, and integral therewith is a bifurcated jaw 36 which is adapted to coiiperate with a horizontal stop pin 37 for limiting the movement of said handle H in either direction, said stop pin 37 being located to the left of said pivot pin 35 and parallel therewith and supported at its ends in the sides 10 of the end portion F. A spring 38 coiled around said pivot pin 35 and an fingers 22 thus hol ing said fingers firmly against their respective contact pieces 25.

Stops are provided for limiting the movement of the vane in either direction. One of said sto s designated 39 on the drawing is formed y a bent-up portion on the unde side f he g ed arm 6 o he a e extending toward the right testing the device by 16 itself and is adapted to strike the upper edge of the tripper arm TA, thus limiting the downward movement of said vane 16. The other stop 40 consists of a metallic piece bent at an angle, one leg of which being secured by rivets to the cross member 4 of the and the other in the path of movement of said vane 16, thus being in a position to limit the upward movement of said vane 16.

Restin on the upper face of the flange 16 on t e arm 16 of the vane 16 is th enlarged head of an up-and-down plunger rod 41 whichis loosely guided in a hole in the cross bar 11 of the end portion F and also in a similar hole in the top block T. Said plunger rod 41 provides a means for hand, as hereinafter or if desired an indicating means end portion Ri gl) explained,

(not shown) may be attached thereto for m .ing parts tliereof are preferably The construction of the main skeleton or indicating the operated condition of the de vice.

In order to prevent unauthorized tampering with protectlve device, the'operatinclosed.

framework of the'device incloses the operating parts on the top and bottom, and one end, but leaves the other end and the two sides open. These portions are provided with a cover 42 having a general U-shape, which is slid in rabbets formed in the top block T and the base portion B, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This cover 42 is preferably made of thin sheet metal and its sides are normally sprungv slightly inward so that when the cover is in position the sides being slightly under tension, tend to hug close to the sides of the frame and hold the cover in position. There is also a lug 43 integral with the cross bar 11 on the end portion F, which is adapted to pass through a slot in the end of said cover 42; and b passing a wire 44 through a transverse ole in the outer end of said lug and having its ends sealed, unauthorized removal of the cover is revented. peration: The protective device embodying my invention is designed primarily to be used in connection with electric interlocking systems for railways which are operable with alternating current, for detecting improper application of alternating current to the control wires of said systems, such as may be produced by crosses, grounds, or the like. For this purpose the device should operate on alternating current and not on direct current. The occurrence of said crosses have a tendency to cause an improper operation of the switch and place it out of correspondence with its control lever.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that' unless means are provided for protecting said systems against such improper operation of the switch, dangerousjresults may occur; and one important function performed by my protective device is to prevent false and improper operation of the switch a ing said arm over and consequently holding said contact 22-25 closed.

- When alternating current flows through the coils 7 ofthe relay, the vane 16 is attracted'upward in accordance with the principles governing the operation of the well known vane type relay. The upward movement of said vane 16 causes the main-shaft 14 to be turned on its axis in a clockwise direction. The eccentric mounting of the main shaft 14 together with the additional eccentric'bearing 17 for the tripper arm TA causes said arm to be gradually lifted, as the main shaft 14 is turned in the direction stated, until the latch 30 on said tripper arm is lifted free of the catch 31 on the restoring handle H, thus removing the pressure exerted on said tripper arm TA and permitting the contact fingers 22- due to their bias to trip open and thus interrupt any circuit that might be taken through said contact fingers.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that when the above described tri ping action has occurred, the underside o the tripper arm TA rests on the top of the catch 31 on the restoring handle H, thus holding the vane 16 up and preventing the main shaft 14 from returning to its original position even though current may have ceased to flow through the coils 7 of the relay. It will, therefore, be evident that the contact fingers 22 will not be again closed until restored by the operator. To restore the protective device to its normal condition and again close the contacts 2225, the operator presses down on the restoring handle H, thus moving the catch 31 on said handle from in under the tripper arm TA to a position behind the latch 30 on said tripper arm. This releases the tripper arm and permits the main shaft 14, which is biased by the weight of the vane 16, to return to its normal position. So long as the handle H is held down, however, the contacts 22- 25 stay open. When the operator releases the handle H, thecoil spring-38associated therewith forces said handle H about itsaxis in a counter-clockwise direction to its normal position, and during this movement of the I handle H the catch 31 thereon enga es with the latch on said tripper arm A and forces said arm toward the left as viewed in Fig. 7 thus causin the contacts 2225 to be again closedan a pressure exerted on the contact fingers 22.

- In case the cross, ground, or the like, which previously caused the flow of alternating current through the 00118 7 of the protective device, still exists when the parts are restored, the vane-16' is immedlately moved upward, and the same movement and operation of the parts hereinbefore described is produced to cause immediate opening of the contacts 2225. It should be vnoted that the operator cannot prevent this second operation, because any attempt on his part to manipulate the restoring handle H to keep the contacts 222'5, closed is of no avail. The same operations will be repeated so long as the cross grounds or the like exists and so long as the operator attempts to restore the protective device.

- From the foregoing, it can be seen that after the protective device has operated, the circuits which it may open cannot a a1n be closed until the parts of the protective device are in sucha position as to be immediately capable of reopening these circuits. The operator consequently, cannot carelessly or maliciously restore the protective device while the cross, ground, or the like exists,

nor can he maliciously prevent the properoperation of the protective device or detract from its efliciency by maniplulation or by fastening down the handle The up-and-down plunger rod 41 provides a means for permitting the operator to test the device by hand to determine whether or not it is in good working condition, or to hold the contacts 22-25 open for any other reason. When this plunger 41 is pressed down by the operator, the lower end of which rests normally on the flange 16 on the arm'16 of the vane 16, the shaft 14 is caused to turn in the same way as if alternating current were to flow throu h the coils, thus lifting the tripper arm T until the latch 30 is disengaged and permitting the contacts 22-25 to trip open, in which position they are held as previously exv plained until restored by the operator, which e may do by operating the restoring han- 4 dle H in the same way as hereinbefore described.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the particular form of construction and arrangement of parts of the protective device shown and described without materially changing the functions and advantages of the device and without departing from my invention. For example, the bac contact piece 27 may be added to the contact fingers, as shown in Fig. 1 and described hereinbefore. It will be evident that with have shown and described one physical embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the particularembodiment and application thereof selected is merely illustrative and does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of means underlying my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a normally closed circuit controller biased to open position, means including a cooperating latch and catch and operatively connected to said circuit controller for holding it in its normal position, and an electromagnetic device including a vane adapted to trip said latch to permit said circuit controller to open when alternating current is supplied to the electro-magnetic device.

2. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a normally closed circuit .controller biased to open position, means including acooperating latch and catch and operatively connected to said circuit controller for holding it in its normal position, electro-magnetic means including a vane for disengaging said latch and catch to permit said circuit controller to open, and manually operable means for reengaging said catch and latch, said manually operable means while in its restoring position acting to permit said circuit controller to remain open.

3. A protective device for safegarding electric interlocking systems comprlsing a normally closed circuit controller biased to open position, electro-magnetic means including a vane and adapted to be moved to an operated position by alternating current through said means, means including a c'0 operating latch and catch for holding said circuit controller in its normal position, said vane acting upon movement to an operated position to trip said latch and permitsaid circuit controller to open, said catch acting after-said latch is tripped to hold said vane in its operated position, andmanually operable means for restoring said circuit controller to its closed position.

4. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a circuit controller biased to openposition, means for normally holding said circuit controller latched against its bias in a closed 7 position, electro-magnetic means including a movable member adapted upon movement to an operated position to actuate said means and unlatch' said circuit controller to permit it to open, and manually operable means for restoring said movable member and circuit controller to the normal position.

5. A rotective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a normally closed circuit controller biased to open position, means including a latch op.- erativelyconnected to the circuit controller, a manually operable restoring member provided with a catch adapted to engage said latch, a spring associated with the restoring member and acting to actuate said circuit controller against its bias to a closed position, and electro-magnetic means including a pair of operating coils and a vane actuated upon energization of said coils for automatically disengaging said latch and catch to permit said circuit controller to open, said catch acting after the disengagement of said latch and catch to hold said vane in an operated position.

6. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a normally closed circuit controller biased to open position, means including a latch operatively connected to the circuit controller, a manually operable restoring member provided with a catch adapted to cooperate with said latch, a s ring acting upon said restoring member a apted to'hold the circuit controller closed while the latch and catch are engaged, and electro-magnetic means for automatically disengaging said latch and catch.

7. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a circuit controller having a resilient contact finger biased to an open position, a tripper arm pivotally secured at one end to said contact finger and provided at its other end with a latch, a manually operable restoring member provided with a catch adapted to engage saidlatch, a spring associated with the restoring member and acting to force said contact finger against its bias to a closed position, and electro-ma netic means for automatically tripping said atch to permit said contact finger to open.

8. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a normally closed circuit controller biased to open position, a tripper arm operatlvely I connected at one end to said circuit controller and provided with a bifurcated jaw having a slot therein, said arm also being provided with a latch, a shaft mounted to turn in either direction and provided with a iding member arranged eccentric to the axis of said shaft, said member being adapt ed to rest in the slot in said jaw and to guide one end of said tripper arm, a manually operable restoring-means provided wlth a catch adapted to engage said latch, a spring associated with the restoring means and acting to force said circuit controller against its bias to a closed position, and electromagnetic means including a vane directly connected tosaid'shaft and adapted upon movement to an operated position to turn said shaft and automatically disengage said latch and catch to permit said circuit controller to open.

rotective devicefor safeguarding electric interlocking systems com rising a normally closed circuit controller iased to open position, a tripper arm operatively connected at one end to said circuit controller and provided with a bifurcated jaw having a slot therein, said arm also being provided with a latch, a shaft mounted to turn in either direction and provided with a guiding member arranged eccentric to the axis of said shaft, said member being adapted to rest in the slot in said jaw and to guide one end of said tripper arm, a manually operable restoring means provided with a catch adapted to en age said latch, a sprlng associated with t e restoring means and acting to force said circuit controller against its bias to a closed position, electrodevice including a pair of coils and a movable member said member being secured to a shaft and adapted to turn therewith, means guided by said shaft and constituting an operative conn'ection between said movable member and said contact finger to resiliently hold said contact finger in a closed position, and means actuated by the movement of said movable member to an operated position to break said holding connection and permit said contact finger to move to an open po-' sition.

11. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a normally closed circuit controllenincluding a resilient contact finger biased to open position, an electro-magnetic device including a movable member secured to and adapted to turn said shaft upon movement to an operated position, an eccentric formed with said shaft, a tripper arm guided at one end by said eccentric and. operatively connected to and insulated from said contact finger at its other end, and a latch on said tripper arm adapted to engage with a catch on a manually operable restoring means, said restoring means being provided with a spring adapted to force said contact finger .against its bias to a closed position, said latch and catch being disengaged by said eccentric when said shaft is turned in one direction.

12. A protective device for safeguarding electric interlocking systems comprising a circuit controller havin a pair of resilient contact fingers adapte to make electrical contact in either of two extreme positions and being biased to one of said positions, a shaft mounted to be turned in either di'- rection and including an eccentric, a tripper arm guided by said eccentric and operatively connectedto said contact fingers, resilient means acting upon said tripper arm to urge said contact fingers to one extreme position against said bias, and electro-magnetic means including a movable member secured to and adapted to turn said shaft when said member is moved to an operated position, Whereby said trlpper arm is automatically released to permit said contact fingers to trip open in one extreme position and to close in the other of said extreme positions.

. RICHARD C. LEAKE. 

